Using the scanner as a camera

[Rob MacKillop]

Apparently it's a thing. Here's my first two experiments, which lead me to think I'll be experimenting a lot more...though not just now, as somewhat mysteriously the scanner is refusing to scan...in the huff perhaps.

 

[Rob MacKillop]

Got the third done...




and crop:




I have to say these jpgs are a poor substitute for the 300+MB originals, which look incredible when zoomed in on the iMac screen.

 

[Pete Askew]

Excellent stuff, Rob and really effective.

We have a couple of scanners at work that we used to use for imaging samples with surface mould growth on them. It was very effective. I remember seeing an article of someone who grafted parts of a scanner onto the back of a LF camera once. I cannot recall the details now though.

 

[Chris Bennett]

Very good!
What's the technique?

 

[Rob MacKillop]

Chris - Technique? I just put flowers on my cheap scanner's glass, a black cloth on top, and scanned in the normal way, though at 12oo dpi instead of the usual 240. Couldn't be simpler. As long as you don't scratch the glass, it should all work smoothly. You could of course go much lower than 1200 dpi, but that's what I started with. Could go higher too, but 350 MBs, or there abouts, was enough for my porpoises (they like it that way).

Pete - a scanner on the back of a LF camera - now, that IS radical. I just looked for it and found this guy, who claims he was not the first: http://www.stockholmviews.com/diyphotogear/scannercamera.html Crazy.

 

[Chris Bennett]

Oh, OK. Gotcha now. So it's the lack of a black cloth that makes for such disappointing photocopier shots at the office party then?!

 

[Rob MacKillop]

Haha, indeed. Best leave some body parts "shrouded" in mystery...

 

[Rob MacKillop]

These with Triste from Auld Nik Silver. I'm enjoying this!

 

[Pete Askew]

I like the black 'line' that appears to weave through the first. Intriguing.

 

[Rob MacKillop]

Do you mean the stalk?

 

[Pete Askew]

No, just the pattern of the black space.

 

[Dave Farnes]

They look very good. I have heard of the office party games, but never seen one used as a camera before.

 

[Rob MacKillop]

Cheers, Dave. Look up scannography. It's a new one on me, but has been around a long time.